We have a variety of options to give you the skills you need for your future, whether that be going to university, further study or starting your dream career. Across our vocational courses, T-Levels and apprenticeships, there is something for everyone at Íæż½ã½ã.
Nearly all of our courses are considered vocational courses because they specialise in areas of learning linked with work, and have been designed with employers. You will build your confidence because you are developing practical skills that can help you secure a job in the future. Answers to assignments may be in written form but it is just as likely they will be in other forms too, such as film clips, project proposals, business plans and portfolios of work.
T-Levels are a new form of vocational course at Level 3, with at least 20% of your course spent on a 45-day placement with an employer, to give you the knowledge and skills companies look for. Apprenticeships allow you to ‘earn whilst you learn’, with most of your training taking place in the workplace.
Levels
Entry Level
If you don’t have any qualifications, studying an Entry Level qualification is the best place to begin your journey.
Once you’ve completed your course, you’ll have practical skills for work and independent living, and a qualification, which can help you progress to the next level.
There are 3 stages of Entry Level available, and we also offer Pre-Entry courses in some areas.
Level 1
If you are new to a subject and would like to improve your basic knowledge, a Level 1 course is the best place to begin – we usually do an initial assessment with you, so that we can help you with your English and maths skills.
Once you’ve completed your course, you’ll have skills for work and daily life, work experience, personal development and an introduction to your subject, that will help you progress to a Level 2 course.
Level 2
Many students go straight to a Level 2 course or apprenticeship after achieving four GCSEs at grade 3 or higher; for many subjects, you can enter as a beginner at this stage.
Once you’ve completed your course, you’ll have many transferable skills such as problem-solving and study skills, enabling you to progress to a Level 3 course or advanced apprenticeship.
Level 3
A Level 3 qualification is the usual route to higher education, offering a vocational equivalent to A Levels. For most subjects, you will need five or more GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, including English, or a Level 2 qualification.
We offer a range of Level 3 qualifications, including T-Levels and Extended Diplomas. Our Access to Higher Education Diplomas are also equivalent to a full Level 3.
Higher Education (Level 4 and Above)
Qualifications at Level 4 and above are considered ‘Higher Education’. A Level 4 qualification, such as a HNC, is often seen as equivalent to the first year of university-level study, whilst a Level 5 qualification, such as a HND, is usually seen as equivalent to having completed two years of university-level study.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships combine training with employment, meaning you ‘earn while you learn’. Most apprenticeships start at Level 2 and Level 3, but there are many new ‘Higher Apprenticeships’ available at Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6. Throughout an apprenticeship, you work towards a nationally recognised qualification, designed by a consortium of employers. This is sometimes taught by an assessor, who visits you in the workplace, or through ‘day release’ or ‘block release’, where you come into college one day per week, or for one week a month.
Access To Higher Education
If you’re aged 19 or older and are looking to study at university, but don’t currently meet the entry requirements for your chosen course, studying an Access to Higher Education Diploma will equip you with the study skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications you need. Access to Higher Education courses have varying entry requirements, depending on the subject area, and are usually studied in a year; we offer a range of distance learning options which offer more flexibility than the standard academic year. Most students who complete an Access to HE course go on to succeed at university and beyond, with a large number pursuing new careers and seeing changes in their lives that they had never thought possible.
Distance Learning and Short Courses
We offer a range of short courses, many of which are available to study as distance learning courses. These are often at Level 2, and take approximately 8 weeks to complete; they are considered equivalent to ‘units’, or parts, of a full Level 2 qualification.
